{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/63.2-1237.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/63.2-1237.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/63.2-1237.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/63.2-1237.html"}],"law_id":79340,"edition_id":1,"section_id":79340,"structure_id":14097,"section_number":"63.2-1237","catch_line":"Petition for parental placement adoption; jurisdiction; contents","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 63-348; 1952, c. 550; 1954, c. 489; 1956, c. 300; 1964, c. 459; 1968, c. 578, \u00a7 63.1-221; 1970, c. 672; 1973, c. 406; 1975, c. 461; 1978, c. 730; 1983, c. 614; 1988, c. 882; 1989, c. 647; 1991, cc. 76, 602; 1995, cc. 772, 826; 2000, c. 830, \u00a7 63.1-219.44; 2002, c. 747; 2006, cc. 825, 848; 2015, c. 529.","full_text":"Proceedings for the parental placement adoption of a minor child and for a change of name of such child shall be instituted only by petition to the circuit court in the county or city in which the petitioner resides or in the county or city where a birth parent has executed a consent pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1233. Such petition may be filed by any natural person who resides in the Commonwealth or is the adopting parent(s) of a child who was subject to a consent proceeding held pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1233. The petition shall ask leave to adopt a minor child not legally the petitioner’s by birth and, if it is so desired by the petitioner, also to change the name of such child. In the case of married persons, the petition shall be the joint petition of the husband and wife but, in the event the child to be adopted is legally the child by birth or adoption of one of the petitioners, such petitioner shall unite in the petition for the purpose of indicating his or her consent to the prayer thereof only. The petition shall contain a full disclosure of the circumstances under which the child came to live, and is living, in the home of the petitioner. Each petition for adoption shall be signed by the petitioner as well as by counsel of record, if any. In any case in which the petition seeks the entry of an adoption order without referral for investigation, the petition shall be under oath.\n\t\tThe petition shall state that the findings required by \u00a7 63.2-1232 have been made and shall be accompanied by appropriate documentation supporting such statement, to include copies of documents executing consent and transferring custody of the child to the prospective adoptive parents, and a copy of the report required by \u00a7 63.2-1231. The court shall not waive any of the requirements of this paragraph nor any of the requirements of \u00a7 63.2-1232 except as allowed pursuant to subsection D of \u00a7 63.2-1232 or subdivision 4 of \u00a7 63.2-1233.\n\t\tA single petition for adoption under the provisions of this section shall be sufficient for the concurrent adoption by the same petitioners of two or more children who have the same birth parent or parents; and nothing in this section shall be construed as having heretofore required a separate petition for each of such children.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":284041,"text":"Proceedings for the parental placement adoption of a minor child and for a change of name of such child shall be instituted only by petition to the circuit court in the county or city in which the petitioner resides or in the county or city where a birth parent has executed a consent pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1233. Such petition may be filed by any natural person who resides in the Commonwealth or is the adopting parent(s) of a child who was subject to a consent proceeding held pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1233. The petition shall ask leave to adopt a minor child not legally the petitioner’s by birth and, if it is so desired by the petitioner, also to change the name of such child. In the case of married persons, the petition shall be the joint petition of the husband and wife but, in the event the child to be adopted is legally the child by birth or adoption of one of the petitioners, such petitioner shall unite in the petition for the purpose of indicating his or her consent to the prayer thereof only. The petition shall contain a full disclosure of the circumstances under which the child came to live, and is living, in the home of the petitioner. Each petition for adoption shall be signed by the petitioner as well as by counsel of record, if any. In any case in which the petition seeks the entry of an adoption order without referral for investigation, the petition shall be under oath.\n\t\tThe petition shall state that the findings required by \u00a7 63.2-1232 have been made and shall be accompanied by appropriate documentation supporting such statement, to include copies of documents executing consent and transferring custody of the child to the prospective adoptive parents, and a copy of the report required by \u00a7 63.2-1231. The court shall not waive any of the requirements of this paragraph nor any of the requirements of \u00a7 63.2-1232 except as allowed pursuant to subsection D of \u00a7 63.2-1232 or subdivision 4 of \u00a7 63.2-1233.\n\t\tA single petition for adoption under the provisions of this section shall be sufficient for the concurrent adoption by the same petitioners of two or more children who have the same birth parent or parents; and nothing in this section shall be construed as having heretofore required a separate petition for each of such children.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14097,"edition_id":1,"name":"Parental Placement Adoptions","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14096,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:52","permalink":{"id":271529,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14097,"identifier":"3","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/3","url":"\/63.2\/III\/12\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14096,"edition_id":1,"name":"Adoption","identifier":"12","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13897,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:52","permalink":{"id":271365,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14096,"identifier":"12","token":"63.2\/III\/12","url":"\/63.2\/III\/12\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13897,"edition_id":1,"name":"Social Services Programs","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12789,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:14","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:14","permalink":{"id":271331,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13897,"identifier":"III","token":"63.2\/III","url":"\/63.2\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12789,"edition_id":1,"name":"Welfare (Social Services)","identifier":"63.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":270661,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12789,"identifier":"63.2","token":"63.2","url":"\/63.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":63566,"structure_id":14097,"section_number":"63.2-1230","catch_line":"Placement of children by parent or guardian","url":"\/63.2-1230\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/3\/63.2-1230","metadata":false},{"id":82655,"structure_id":14097,"section_number":"63.2-1231","catch_line":"Home study; meeting required; exception","url":"\/63.2-1231\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/3\/63.2-1231","metadata":false},{"id":75426,"structure_id":14097,"section_number":"63.2-1232","catch_line":"Requirements of a parental placement adoption; exception","url":"\/63.2-1232\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/3\/63.2-1232","metadata":false},{"id":69788,"structure_id":14097,"section_number":"63.2-1233","catch_line":"Consent to be executed in juvenile and domestic relations district court; exceptions","url":"\/63.2-1233\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/3\/63.2-1233","metadata":false},{"id":80402,"structure_id":14097,"section_number":"63.2-1234","catch_line":"When consent is revocable","url":"\/63.2-1234\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/3\/63.2-1234","metadata":false},{"id":55223,"structure_id":14097,"section_number":"63.2-1235","catch_line":"Adoptive home not in child's best interests","url":"\/63.2-1235\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/3\/63.2-1235","metadata":false},{"id":76454,"structure_id":14097,"section_number":"63.2-1236","catch_line":"Duty of Department to disseminate information","url":"\/63.2-1236\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/3\/63.2-1236","metadata":false},{"id":79340,"structure_id":14097,"section_number":"63.2-1237","catch_line":"Petition for parental placement adoption; jurisdiction; contents","url":"\/63.2-1237\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/3\/63.2-1237","metadata":false},{"id":63654,"structure_id":14097,"section_number":"63.2-1238","catch_line":"Forwarding of petition; when investigation and report not required","url":"\/63.2-1238\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/3\/63.2-1238","metadata":false},{"id":71186,"structure_id":14097,"section_number":"63.2-1239","catch_line":"Return of copies furnished to counsel","url":"\/63.2-1239\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/3\/63.2-1239","metadata":false},{"id":78297,"structure_id":14097,"section_number":"63.2-1240","catch_line":"Court issuing order deemed sending agency under Interstate Compact on Placement of Children","url":"\/63.2-1240\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/3\/63.2-1240","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":76454,"structure_id":14097,"section_number":"63.2-1236","catch_line":"Duty of Department to disseminate information","url":"\/63.2-1236\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/3\/63.2-1236","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":63654,"structure_id":14097,"section_number":"63.2-1238","catch_line":"Forwarding of petition; when investigation and report not required","url":"\/63.2-1238\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/3\/63.2-1238","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/63.2-1237\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 18 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1952, chapter 550; in 1954, chapter 489; in 1956, chapter 300; in 1964, chapter 459; in 1968, chapter 578; in 1970, chapter 672; in 1973, chapter 406; in 1975, chapter 461; in 1978, chapter 730; in 1983, chapter 614; in 1988, chapter 882; in 1989, chapter 647; in 1991, chapters 76 and 602; in 1995, chapters 772<\/a> and 826<\/a>; in 2000, chapter 830<\/a>; in 2002, chapter 747<\/a>; in 2006, chapters 825<\/a> and 848<\/a>; in 2015, chapter 529<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":71654,"section_number":"16.1-243","catch_line":"Venue","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-243\/"},{"id":62109,"section_number":"16.1-262","catch_line":"Form and content of petition","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-262\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":82655,"section_number":"63.2-1231","catch_line":"Home study; meeting required; exception","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1231\/"},{"id":75426,"section_number":"63.2-1232","catch_line":"Requirements of a parental placement adoption; exception","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1232\/"},{"id":69788,"section_number":"63.2-1233","catch_line":"Consent to be executed in juvenile and domestic relations district court; exceptions","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1233\/"}],"permalink":{"id":271559,"object_type":"law","relational_id":79340,"identifier":"63.2-1237","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/3\/63.2-1237","url":"\/63.2-1237\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/63.2-1237\/","token":"63.2\/III\/12\/3\/63.2-1237","dublin_core":{"Title":"Petition for parental placement adoption; jurisdiction; contents","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 63.2-1237","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Proceedings for the parental placement<\/span> adoption of a minor<\/span> child<\/span> and for a change of name of such child<\/span> shall be instituted only by petition<\/span> to the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> in the county or city in which the petitioner resides or in the county or city where a birth parent<\/span> has executed a consent pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1233<\/a>. Such petition<\/span> may be filed by any natural person who resides in the Commonwealth or is the adopting parent(s) of a child<\/span> who was subject to a consent proceeding held pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1233<\/a>. The petition<\/span> shall ask leave to adopt a minor<\/span> child<\/span> not legally the petitioner’s by birth and, if it is so desired by the petitioner, also to change the name of such child<\/span>. In the case of married persons, the petition<\/span> shall be the joint petition<\/span> of the husband and wife but, in the event the child<\/span> to be adopted is legally the child<\/span> by birth or adoption of one of the petitioners, such petitioner shall unite in the petition<\/span> for the purpose of indicating his or her consent to the prayer thereof only. The petition<\/span> shall contain a full disclosure of the circumstances under which the child<\/span> came to live, and is living, in the home of the petitioner. Each petition<\/span> for adoption shall be signed by the petitioner as well as by counsel<\/span> of record, if any. In any case in which the petition<\/span> seeks the entry of an adoption order<\/span> without referral for investigation, the petition<\/span> shall be under oath<\/span>.\n\t\tThe petition<\/span> shall state that the findings<\/span> required by \u00a7 63.2-1232<\/a> have been made and shall be accompanied by appropriate documentation supporting such statement, to include copies of documents executing consent and transferring custody<\/span> of the child<\/span> to the prospective adoptive parents, and a copy of the report required by \u00a7 63.2-1231<\/a>. The court<\/span> shall not waive<\/span> any of the requirements of this paragraph nor any of the requirements of \u00a7 63.2-1232<\/a> except as allowed pursuant to subsection D of \u00a7 63.2-1232<\/a> or subdivision 4 of \u00a7 63.2-1233<\/a>.\n\t\tA single petition<\/span> for adoption under the provisions of this section shall be sufficient for the concurrent adoption by the same petitioners of two or more children who have the same birth parent<\/span> or parents; and nothing in this section shall be construed as having heretofore required a separate petition<\/span> for each of such children.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPETITION FOR PARENTAL PLACEMENT ADOPTION; JURISDICTION; CONTENTS (\u00a7 63.2-1237)\n\nProceedings for the parental placement adoption of a minor child and for a\nchange of name of such child shall be instituted only by petition to the circuit\ncourt in the county or city in which the petitioner resides or in the county or\ncity where a birth parent has executed a consent pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1233. Such\npetition may be filed by any natural person who resides in the Commonwealth or\nis the adopting parent(s) of a child who was subject to a consent proceeding\nheld pursuant to \u00a7 63.2-1233. The petition shall ask leave to adopt a minor\nchild not legally the petitioner’s by birth and, if it is so desired by\nthe petitioner, also to change the name of such child. In the case of married\npersons, the petition shall be the joint petition of the husband and wife but,\nin the event the child to be adopted is legally the child by birth or adoption\nof one of the petitioners, such petitioner shall unite in the petition for the\npurpose of indicating his or her consent to the prayer thereof only. The\npetition shall contain a full disclosure of the circumstances under which the\nchild came to live, and is living, in the home of the petitioner. Each petition\nfor adoption shall be signed by the petitioner as well as by counsel of record,\nif any. In any case in which the petition seeks the entry of an adoption order\nwithout referral for investigation, the petition shall be under oath.\n\t\tThe petition shall state that the findings required by \u00a7 63.2-1232 have been\nmade and shall be accompanied by appropriate documentation supporting such\nstatement, to include copies of documents executing consent and transferring\ncustody of the child to the prospective adoptive parents, and a copy of the\nreport required by \u00a7 63.2-1231. The court shall not waive any of the\nrequirements of this paragraph nor any of the requirements of \u00a7 63.2-1232\nexcept as allowed pursuant to subsection D of \u00a7 63.2-1232 or subdivision 4 of\n\u00a7 63.2-1233.\n\t\tA single petition for adoption under the provisions of this section shall be\nsufficient for the concurrent adoption by the same petitioners of two or more\nchildren who have the same birth parent or parents; and nothing in this section\nshall be construed as having heretofore required a separate petition for each of\nsuch children.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 63-348; 1952, c. 550; 1954, c. 489; 1956, c. 300; 1964,\nc. 459; 1968, c. 578, \u00a7 63.1-221; 1970, c. 672; 1973, c. 406; 1975, c. 461;\n1978, c. 730; 1983, c. 614; 1988, c. 882; 1989, c. 647; 1991, cc. 76, 602; 1995,\ncc. 772, 826; 2000, c. 830, \u00a7 63.1-219.44; 2002, c. 747; 2006, cc. 825, 848;\n2015, c. 529.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}